A monk lived on top of a pillar for 37 years.
There’s devoted, and then there’s Simeon Stylites. A Christian ascetic born near present-day Aleppo in approximately 390 CE, he launched a movement when he built a pillar from stones in a ruined building near Aleppo one day and didn’t come down until he died — nearly 37 years later.
Simeon was known for his austere lifestyle even before becoming the first “pillar hermit,” and he initially ascended a 6-foot-high column in a ruined building to escape the many pilgrims and followers who’d made a habit of seeking out his sage advice. Unfortunately for him, the act had the opposite effect. Simeon became more famous than ever after taking up residence on the pillar, which he later extended to nearly 50 feet tall with an 11-square-foot platform for him to stand, pray, and sleep on, though exactly how he accomplished this appears to be lost to history. The higher he ascended, he apparently reasoned, the closer he was to heaven.
He received food and other offerings via a ladder and received a constant stream of visitors in search of enlightenment, relief from various ailments, and spiritual advice. He is said to have converted many to Christianity and inspired countless imitators, known as stylites, who likewise exposed themselves to the elements atop pillars for extended periods of time. Formally known as Simeon Stylites the Elder, he has long been venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Church.
